Hoops roundup

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The Martha’s Vineyard boys varsity basketball team suffered another close defeat Monday night at home to Somerset, 59-54.

The Purple fell to 3-7 on the season. Six of those seven losses have been by five points or less.

The latest setback was a coach’s nightmare, especially in the first half, when fundamentals went out the window in favor of prime time excitement and individual feats of daring.

The crucial factor was that in the second half, Somerset settled down and got back to basics, implementing a more patient half-court game. They passed well around the perimeter and dominated the offensive glass.

The Vineyarders stuck to the run and gun at their peril. Martha’s Vineyard played as if they were working with a ten-second shot clock, which created non-stop excitement under the hoop, but not necessarily good basketball.

Still, the Vineyarders led almost the entire first half and were in the game right to the end.

Steve Handy was the main reason. He hit three-pointers, reverse lay-ups, fade-away jumpers, you name it, for a game high 24 points.

Vineyard head coach Mike Joyce summed up his team’s troubles after the game.

“We have a quick group of guys that can get up and down the court, but they just don’t do it five at a time, the whole time and they’re sloppy with the ball. They’re still playing summer league basketball and that doesn’t work when you play high school basketball. Other teams are disciplined and they attack those mistakes.”

Friday, at Old Rochester the Vineyarders stormed back from an early 16-point hole, but lost 76-71.

Mark Reppert finished with 24 points and 10 rebounds. Steve Handy and Jess Swaringen scored 10 points each.

Coach Jason O’ Donnell’s jayvee squad fared far better last week, winning in Mattapoisett against Old Rochester on Friday 77-45 and topping Somerset 67-51 at the Sancy on Monday to improve to 6-2.

Shane Schofield (18 points), Delmont Araujo (12), and Jeff Duarte (10) paced Martha’s Vineyard against ORR as the visitors put the Bulldogs away with a 34-3 spot in quarter three.

Against Somerset, T.J. VanGerven excelled for Martha’s Vineyard with 16 points and 14 rebounds. Lamar Moreis and Shane Schofield each scored 10.

The varsity, jayvees, and freshman all hosted Wareham late yesterday.

Girls Basketball

The varsity girls finally had a game to cheer about again after they rallied to beat Somerset 54-40, Monday.

The road win was sweet revenge against the Lady Raiders who beat Martha’s Vineyard at the buzzer last week.

The Vineyarders (2-7) overturned a 24-22 halftime deficit and surged ahead with a 21-point fourth quarter.

Head Coach Lisa Stewart was pleased with her team’s overall effort. “It was a great game,” she said. “Our defense was swarming. We switched to 1-3-1 to shut down their best players.”

The Martha’s Vineyard offense, so dormant against Old Rochester on Friday, was in fine form against Somerset. It was also unselfish, posting 14 assists.

Katie Hines paced the Martha’s Vineyard attack with 15 points and raided the Raiders with seven steals.

Kia Minor returned to the line-up by scoring 13 points, hauling down 11 rebounds, and grabbing six steals

Jillian Sedlier had 11 points, Erin Morris scored nine, and Alicia Oliveira added a bucket and nine steals.

Friday against Old Rochester, Martha’s Vineyard just couldn’t find their offensive touch in a 35-25 home loss.

The Bulldogs won the game from the charity stripe in the fourth quarter, hitting seven of ten shots to pull away.

In the jayvee game, Martha’s Vineyard broke open a close game in the second half to down ORR, 26-18.

Sarah Williston scored 14 points to lead Martha’s Vineyard, who improved to 4-4. Hanna Persson had five points and Alex Mark had four. Kat Todd scored three points and was a standout on the defensive glass.

The jayvees continued their good form with two wins over Somerset on Saturday and Monday. In the first game, the visiting Vineyarders, all freshmen themselves, played great team defense and romped over the Raiders’ freshmen team, 42-28. Kat Todd scored 12 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. Hanna Persson had 15 points and Sarah Williston 11.

Monday, Martha’s Vineyard prevailed 39-35. Hanna Persson (11 points), Sarah Williston (10), and Alex Mark (8) led on the scoresheet. Meghan McHugh was tough on defense.

Both the varsity and jayvees played at Wareham late yesterday.